Suncoast Credit Union has invested $50,000 into educational programs across Polk County through the Polk Education Foundation, providing funding for classroom supplies, literacy initiatives, teachers, and student support programs.
According to the foundation, the funding will assist multiple educational initiatives, including classroom supply programs, school-based grants, literacy efforts, and book vending machine replenishments. Several of the donations were matched dollar-for-dollar through the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program, increasing the overall impact of the investment.
A $25,000 donation was designated to purchase school supplies for the Free Teacher Market, which allows teachers to shop for classroom materials at no cost. Educators participating in the program receive supplies to directly support students in their classrooms.
An additional $15,000 was awarded for school-based grants focused on literacy, STEM education, Career Technical Education (CTE), resiliency initiatives, support for low-performing students, and teacher quality programs.
The foundation also announced that Eagle Lake Elementary and Floral Avenue Elementary each received $2,500 to restock books for their school book vending machines, which were originally funded through previous Suncoast Credit Union grants.
Additionally, AmeriCorps Polk Reads received $5,000 to support tutoring services for kindergarten through third-grade students. The program provides one-on-one reading instruction to more than 400 students each week, focusing on phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
“Suncoast Credit Union is proud to invest in programs that strengthen Polk County’s students, teachers and schools,” said Bob Hyde, Vice President of Community Impact for Suncoast Credit Union. “Supporting education has been central to our mission for nearly a century, and this donation helps ensure today’s students have what they need to succeed tomorrow.”
Polk Education Foundation Executive Director Tracy Porter said the donations will help expand educational opportunities and provide critical resources for teachers and students throughout the county.
List of Donations
- $25,000 — Free Teacher Market school supplies program
- $15,000 — School-based grants for literacy, STEM, CTE, resiliency, low performers, and teacher quality
- $2,500 — Eagle Lake Elementary book vending machine replenishment
- $2,500 — Floral Avenue Elementary book vending machine replenishment
- $5,000 — AmeriCorps Polk Reads tutoring program
Total Investment: $50,000
SOURCE: CITY OF LAKE WALES
